07-08 Raptors Season

[Saint Troy]

Bargani's quickness on defence is miles ahead of last season already, good to see the Raptors playing great team ball, which a complete rarity outside of San Antonio.

[Eddie Bronze]

I haven't watched basketball for a few years now so I'm out of the loop but I need someone to explain something to me. I have seen highlights of the first two Raptors games. Chuck Swirsky is their pbp guy and he keeps yelling, "Onions baby, onions!!!" What. The. Hell. ??????????????

[phaneuf_train]

Originally Posted by Eddie Bronze

I haven't watched basketball for a few years now so I'm out of the loop but I need someone to explain something to me. I have seen highlights of the first two Raptors games. Chuck Swirsky is their pbp guy and he keeps yelling, "Onions baby, onions!!!" What. The. Hell. ??????????????

Onions baby! Spanish onions! He's getting famous for his out of the world commentary. "Get out the salami and cheese mama, this ball game is over."

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Eddie Bronze

I haven't watched basketball for a few years now so I'm out of the loop but I need someone to explain something to me. I have seen highlights of the first two Raptors games. Chuck Swirsky is their pbp guy and he keeps yelling, "Onions baby, onions!!!" What. The. Hell. ??????????????

Personally I love the Raps play by play, they're over the top and massive homers, but thats what makes them so fun to listen to.

Onions is for when someone makes a huge shot, possibly game changing. And "Get out the Salami and cheese Mama, this ballgame is over folks", is when Swirsky is feeling confident that the Raptors have the game in hand well enough to win.

[Eddie Bronze]

So it's just some crazy stuff he came up with, it really has no meaning? That's hilarious. I have to say Swirsky is quite the character and a riot to listen to. When the Raps make a nice shot, his reaction makes me wonder when the heart attack is coming.

I guess CBC is carrying Sunday games this year, hopefully they use him as their pbp guy as well.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by Eddie Bronze

So it's just some crazy stuff he came up with, it really has no meaning? That's hilarious. I have to say Swirsky is quite the character and a riot to listen to. When the Raps make a nice shot, his reaction makes me wonder when the heart attack is coming.

I guess CBC is carrying Sunday games this year, hopefully they use him as their pbp guy as well.

I'm not sure exactly what the origin of the 'onions' is, but the salami and cheese came from a time that a viewer wrote to Chuck and asked him if he could say when he thinks that a game is over, so that the viewer can go make a sandwich. I'm so-so on it. I don't really like homer broadcasts, but if an announcer is going to be a homer, I'd rather that they just go all-out with it, as Chuck does.

edit: and yes, I believe CBC will use the same broadcasting crew. We'll find out in a few hours, I guess.

[KTown]

Originally Posted by Eddie Bronze

So it's just some crazy stuff he came up with, it really has no meaning? That's hilarious. I have to say Swirsky is quite the character and a riot to listen to. When the Raps make a nice shot, his reaction makes me wonder when the heart attack is coming.


I guess CBC is carrying Sunday games this year, hopefully they use him as their pbp guy as well.

I believe he does all the play by play no matter what network it is. His sidekick alwasy changes. I know last year he did SCORE, Raptors NBATV (best channel we have for the value out here. 2.49 a month and you actually get 12 raptors games" Sportsnet and TSN


When Mo Pete was playing for the raps everytime mo pete got a 3 he said there's an mp3 download.

I also like when Parker scores a 3 he says theres a 3 thats good from parkerville.

I wonder what hes going to come up with for some of the new guys like kapono and delfino.

[phaneuf_train]

Can't forgot that Bargnani is El Mago. What a good intro from George Stompologolous or what ever is last name is.

[CaramonLS]

For all this hype surrounding the celtics, I'm unimpressed.

The Raptors played TERRIBLE, just down right horrible - missing shots they normally make, and they're only down by 7. This is a very winnable game if some of these shots start falling.

[phaneuf_train]

Onions! Ford ties the game at 95 with 4.4 left in OT.

I can see Allen win it though Lets see!

[phaneuf_train]

I called it. Allen wins it for Boston

[OzSome]

Sucks!! For all the guy you cannot give a space Ray Allen was wide open on the side and knocking down a two. Oh well, one thing I like about the Raptors is the way they came back. I really like this team so far and I think they might surprise a lot of people. The Raptors have a lot of 3-pointer arsenals with Jason Kapono, Carlos Delfino, TJ Ford, Jose Calderon, Andrea Bragnani, Jorge Garbajosa, Juan Dixon, Anthony Parker and even Chris Bosh. Unlike a few seasons ago where we have to rely on MoPete or Vince Carter.
KGarnett was awesome today especially in OT. I cannot believe the Raptors could have drafted him in 96 instead of Damon Stoudamaire. Thanks a lot Isiah Thomas!! Imagine seeing KGarnett and Vince Carter before or KG, Vince and CB4 together or even KG and CB4 together. Oh well, it was the past so I guess there's nothing Raptors can do now.

[HFPM]

Don't forget Tracy McGrady as well.

[KTown]

Originally Posted by OzSome

Sucks!! For all the guy you cannot give a space Ray Allen was wide open on the side and knocking down a two. Oh well, one thing I like about the Raptors is the way they came back. I really like this team so far and I think they might surprise a lot of people. The Raptors have a lot of 3-pointer arsenals with Jason Kapono, Carlos Delfino, TJ Ford, Jose Calderon, Andrea Bragnani, Jorge Garbajosa, Juan Dixon, Anthony Parker and even Chris Bosh. Unlike a few seasons ago where we have to rely on MoPete or Vince Carter.
KGarnett was awesome today especially in OT. I cannot believe the Raptors could have drafted him in 96 instead of Damon Stoudamaire. Thanks a lot Isiah Thomas!! Imagine seeing KGarnett and Vince Carter before or KG, Vince and CB4 together or even KG and CB4 together. Oh well, it was the past so I guess there's nothing Raptors can do now.

Actually KG was drafted fifth overall, and we had the 7th overall pick. Hence why we got stoudamire

[phaneuf_train]

What a ugly loss last night to Dallas. I was switching from the Flames game and the Raps game. We we're up 34 points in the 2nd quarter, draining almost every shot looking unstoppable. 3rd quarter starts and Dirk takes over scoring 18 points in the 3rd. Raps down by 8 or something after the 3rd. Just a plain ugly 2nd half.

[octothorp]

Yup, the same thing happened with Dallas last year with Dirk out of the lineup. His shooting display in the third was one of the more impressive things I`ve seen, but really it came down to the Raptors' inability to make a stop.

On the bright side, Calengelo seems to have unearthed another gem in Moon. Probably not good enough to be on the starting line, but a very good shut-down defender, which is probably this team's biggest deficiency.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Yup, the same thing happened with Dallas last year with Dirk out of the lineup. His shooting display in the third was one of the more impressive things I`ve seen, but really it came down to the Raptors' inability to make a stop.

On the bright side, Calengelo seems to have unearthed another gem in Moon. Probably not good enough to be on the starting line, but a very good shut-down defender, which is probably this team's biggest deficiency.

I'm shocked at how well Moon has been able to come in and play, the guy is an athletic freak who can make some crazy defensive plays, and has a crazy vert. I just love the defensive intensity he is able to bring to the floor.

He is going to have a huge test guarding LeBron on Saturday, but if he does show something, the Raps just might have found the right player to help shut down those SGs/SFs that continue to plague them.

[Saint Troy]

Good win tonight after chucking it up to the Mavs last night, big games from Bosh and Bargnani especially with no Ford. Have to love the way Jamario Moon is playing, if all the Raps would crash the boards like he does they would be very tough to beat. Jack Armstrong's "fly me to the Moon" is hilarious as well.

[JohnnyFlame]

Originally Posted by Saint Troy

Good win tonight after chucking it up to the Mavs last night, big games from Bosh and Bargnani especially with no Ford. Have to love the way Jamario Moon is playing, if all the Raps would crash the boards like he does they would be very tough to beat. Jack Armstrong's "fly me to the Moon" is hilarious as well.

I wasn't impressed by that win. They stunk again defensively but then they usually do. At least this year Delfino and Moon giive them some energy on defense. I keep wondering why on earth they don't use AB more down low or why he does not attack the basket. I like the guy but geez do something besides fire up three's. Guy has missed a whole lot of shots this year and until recently his defensive play/intensity kept him on the bench. Other guys like Moon out there for extended minutes. I like what Moon gives them but man the guy should NOT be out there as often as he is. I think Smitch is just trying to get them to up their intensity level(the starters that is) and once they do the rotation will change minutes wise.

[CaramonLS]

Well, because AB is a 7 footer who doesn't quite play like one yet. It is going to take a few years for him to develop that inside presence as well as the defensive aspect of his game. I wish I would see him under the Basket getting rebounds and scoring, but right now he is content to stay outside and drop the long range 3, which he is very good at from the top of the key, but shouldn't fall in love with it like he does.

The Raptors don't have a lot of players who play defense well at all, which is why Moon and Delfino are out there so much. Aside from those 2, probably Anthony Parker is the best defender out there. Ford is a poor defender, so is Bargs and Bosh is mediocre at best as a defender (although improving from year to year).